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The Hunt Saboteurs Association is unsurprised to learn that the Eton College Beagles are facing allegations of illegal hunting following an undercover investigation.

Over two years ago, the HSA exclusively revealed that Eton College was planning to hold a 'Young Hare Hunters Day' on its premises. Organised by bloodsports group the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles, the event was designed to introduce vulnerable Eton pupils to all aspects of hare hunting. The event was cancelled at the last minute when the HSA organised a peaceful demonstration at the college.

HSA Press Officer Lee Moon commented, "Eton College have serious questions to answer. Today their spokesman has claimed that the college 'takes its legal responsibilities extremely seriously and expects all school activities to comply with the law.' Why then did it allow a 'Young Hare Hunters Day' at the college just two years ago? Today we have released a copy of the booking form for the event so the public can make up their own minds about what 'lessons' were to be taught at Eton College on 13th October 2013."

On New Years Day hunt saboteurs filmed the Fitzwilliam Hunt illegally chase and kill a fox. The evidence is being looked at by legal experts and will be presented to Cambridgeshire Police.

The hunt met at Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Cambridgeshire and were illegally hunting all day. As the afternoon progressed they hunted a wooded area close to the river Nene. The hounds went into cry and a fox was seen running along the river bank with the hounds in pursuit. The huntsman encouraged the hounds on despite sabs being present. The hounds finally caught and attacked the fox in a corner of a field with the huntsman looking on. It was still alive when sabs arrived although hunt support were trying to remove the evidence. The fox had been disembowelled. It was pronounced dead by a sab shortly afterwards.

The hunt were pretending to use the Bird Of Prey Exemption however the eagle they had present was never un-hooded and not in a position to fly. The hunt staff made no attempt to call off the hounds.

Lee Moon, press spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “New Years Day is one of the high profile occasions in the hunting calendar. If a hunt is willing to illegally chase and kill a fox on this day, with hunt saboteurs present, imagine what they are doing the rest of the year when the spotlight isn't on them. Congratulations to the sabs who managed to gather evidence of this brutality and we look forward to a robust investigation by Cambridgeshire police.”

Today Atherstone Hunt supporter Laura Caines was found guilty of two counts of assault by beating at Loughborough Magistrates Court.

The incident happened on the 28th February 2015 after a fox was chased and illegally hunted by the Atherstone. Stuart Barton, the huntsman, immediately rides his horse into the nearest saboteur pinning them against a wall. Caines then attacks the same saboteur from behind by putting them in a head lock, hitting them over the head and then attempting to steal their camcorder. She then moved on to the other sab who was filming, grabbed her and then dug her nails into the sabs cheek causing it to bleed. She again tried to steal the camcorder that had filmed the incident.

Magistrates found her guilty in her absence after offering no defence. A warrant has been issued for her arrest so that she can be sentenced.

Lee Moon, press spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “It is always gratifying when one of the violent bloodsports community is held accountable for their actions. The police and CPS were forced to act in this instance due to compelling video evidence that even they couldn't brush under the carpet. This incident is just the tip of the iceberg however of what West Midlands Hunt Sabs have experienced from the Atherstone hunt over the past two years. They are regularly subjected to physical and verbal abuse which is ignored by the police. They also have video evidence of illegal hunting which is also ignored. The calibre of the Atherstone hunt and their supporters is obvious to all decent people and we expect a more assertive approach from Leicestershire and Warwickshire police in the future.”

The Hunt Saboteurs Association is today celebrating the cancellation of the week-long hunting event known as Alston Hare Week.

For the first time in over thirty years the Weardale & Tees Valley Beagles have failed to organise their usual October 'festival' for visiting southern packs.

This is as a direct result of the event being sabotaged last year and the HSA's firm commitment to return to Alston whenever required.

HSA Press Officer Lee Moon commented, "The beaglers seem reluctant to repeat the experience of 2014 which saw up to 40 sabs disrupting their hunts. Whilst this is a great victory, we are not complacent. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have been able to fund a dedicated unit in the area whose role is to monitor any attempt to reschedule the event. We will not tolerate the killing of Alston's hares."